The question many employers are debating over is whether or not to hire an employee with multiple piercings or tattoos. I, personally, do not see the appeal. Sure it might be cool and stylish when you get it, but what about when you start to regret it? There are certain treatments that can remove the tattoo but they do not always go away. Dr. Tattoff states that, “100% removal depends on the size and placement of your tattoo, as well as the colors and density of the ink in your tattoo. Some bright yellows, pinks or blues can be difficult to fully remove depending on your skin tone.”

Piercings are not too big an issue because they can be easily covered up and over time the small ones will heal and close up. The larger piercings are harder to cover up and are less likely to heal.

Another issue is the cost to remove an unwanted tattoo. On average, the removal of a tattoo could cost $200 to $500 dollars and the tattoo may not even come completely off. Future employers might not even hire people with tattoos or piercings. I interviewed workers at different stores to ask what they thought about piercings and tattoos.

I asked three girls at Target what their thoughts on this were, the first girl said, “it depends on their work ethic and who they are, not what they look like.” The second worker said, “she saw a doctor with a lot of tattoos and it just depends on how well they do their work.” The last employee stated that, “piercings and tattoos do not make them a good or bad person.”

I also asked a Living Spaces employee and she had an opposite point of view. She said that, “the company does not mind if an employee has any tattoos but she would hire only to an extreme. One or two is okay but not when it covers their whole body.” She had no tattoos and only small ear piercings.

So does this make tattoos and piercings okay for all jobs? Our society is changing and so is our view on what is and isn’t acceptable. I personally agree with the employee at Living Spaces. A few tattoos and small piercings are okay but try not to do something you might regret.